Vu is such a kind soul and I honestly couldn't think of anyone more deserving of a DAISY Award. True compassion is an innate gift. It isn't something that can be taught or learned it just is. I had the pleasure of witnessing such genuine and true compassion when working with Vu today. He happened to walk by a patient's room and his astute nursing ears allowed him to hear (among all the hustle and bustle in the hallway) that she was sobbing. He stopped what he was doing and even though she wasn't his patient he took the time to see what was going on. Turns out the patient was in severe pain and febrile to top it off. Unable to locate the primary nurse, Vu nurtured her emotional needs and continued to take care of her by treating her fever as well. He contacted the primary care MD, completed vitals, and had even collected blood cultures all before the primary nurse was able to enter the room. As it turns out, the patient was also upset with her primary nurse and demanded she not return to the room. Here is where Vu's commitment to that patient and ultimately his team surfaced as he assumed the care of this patient without being asked to do so. He didn't involve the charge nurse and didn't ask to swap a patient, he simply continued to take care of this patient because it was what she needed.
I learned about 'bucket filling' from my school aged children. It is based on a children's book and is defined as the essence of being loved and loving others and occurs in those little moments in a day when you stop and just listen. I can say without a doubt Vu filled the bucket of that patient! Unknowingly he filled the bucket of his nursing colleague as well because I had the bystander view of his selfless act of compassion. He could have just as easily walked past her room and continued about his day but he didn't. He stopped and took the time to listen and as a result had a positive impact on her emotional and physical well-being.